Latch mechanism



1955 G. E. BATCHELDER 2,700,308

LATCH MECHANISM Filed April 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR GEORGE E. 'BATCHELDER.

ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1955 s. E. BATCHELDER 2,700,308

LATCH MECHANISM Filed April 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w 323 330 322 I INVENTOR I 1 GEORGE E. BATCHELDER.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent C LATCH MECHANISM George E. Batchelder, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Rockwell Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 22, 1952, Serial No. 283,740 12 Claims. (Cl. 74-2) This invention relates to an improved latch device, which, while susceptible of more or less general application and use, is particularly designed for the timed operational control of a valve or other mechanical element in the manner described and claimed in an appllcation for patent on predetermining dispensing mechanism for fluid meters filed by Einar Thoresen on December 13, 1951, Serial No. 261,448.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a latch case of minimum dimensions with coacting, relatively movable latchlng elements of simple mechanical form for releasably latching a spring-b ased member guidably mounted on the case 1n set position.

Another object resides in the provision of a novel mounting and arrangement of the coactmg latching elements on the same wall of the latch case, respectively internally and externally thereof.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a pivotally mounted lever having means for latching engagement with a part on said spring biased member and operated in one direction by said member in its movement to set position, together with a movably mounted pin coacting with said lever to releasably retain said lever in latching position.

An additional object is to provide a novel mounting and arrangement of a spring held carrier plate for said latch pin which will be sensitively responsive to the actuation of a latch tripping member.

With the above and other objects in -view the invention comprises the'improved latch device and the construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated 1n the accompanying drawings and incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings herein I have disclosed one sunple and practical embodiment of the invention and in which corresponding reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, with certain parts broken away, showing my novel latch device applied as a valve control unit in predetermining dispensing mechanism for fluid meters.

I Figure 2 is a top plan view partly in section, the latch case cover being removed and the spring biased member shown in unlatched position.

Figure 3 is a similar view, showing the spring biased member in latched position.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view, and

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially onthe line 55 of Figure 3.

For the purpose of illustrating one practical application of the present invention, in Figure 1 of the drawings I have shown a fluid meter having a housing 12 for avertical drive shaft operatively connected with a register (not shown) rotatably supported by a base 16 secured upon the upper end of the housing 10. Within the base 16 the latch device 18 embodying the present invention is mounted and, in this instance, is provided with register controlled trip means to be later described.

A fluid control valve unit 24 has a bolting flange 36 securely bolted as at 38 to a complementary flange 26 at the outlet side of the meter. A valve latching unit 28 is mounted on one side of the base 16 and operatively connected with valve operating shaft 98, the effective operaltison of unit 28 being controlled by the latch device Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings ice the latch casing 314 has an axially located opening 320 in its bottom wall which is preferably, though not necessarily of rectangular form. Within the casing and adjacent to this opening a latching lever 322 is pivotally mounted at one end on a stud 324 fixed in the bottom wall of the casing. This lever lies and pivots in a plane parallel with and closely adjacent to said casing wall and terminates at its pivoted end in a short angularly disposed arm 326 projecting outwardly from pivot stud 324 toward the cylindrical body wall of the casing. Lever 322 is curved and extends from stud 324 around one side of opening 320, the other end of the lever being slidably guided by a lug 328 projecting radially inward over said lever from the cylindrical casing wall and substantially in diametrical alignment with the pivot stud 324. At one side of guide lug 328 the bottom wall of the casing is provided with an opening 330 over which the end of lever 322 extends when said lever is in the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. The lever 322 carries a latching roller 332 mounted on stud 334 fixed in the lever adjacent pivot stud 324 and at the opposite side thereof with respect to the lever arm 326. A member 336 in the form of a rectangular bar is slidably guided in notches or recesses 338 in the cylindrical body wall of casing 314 for movement in a path substantially normal to the pivot axis of lever 322. The notches open upon the upper edge of the casing wall and member 336 is retained therein by the cover plate 340, Figure l, for the open top of the casing body and is secured thereon by screws 342 inserted upwardly through openings in the bottom wall of the casing, as seen in Figure 4. Member 336 is operatively connected to the handle on device 28 in Figure 1 so that rotation of said handle to the left in Figure 1 moves the bar 336 to the left. This may be done in any suitable manner as, for example, by use of the mechanism disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,382,454 to Thoresen. Member 336, within the casing 314, has a longitudinal slot or recess 344 in its lower face which receives the latch lever arm 326 and provides an abutment or shoul-' der 346 at the forward end of said recess to coact with said arm and rock the lever 322 in clockwise direction from the position of Figure '2 to the position of Figure 3; In suitably spaced relation from the shoulder 346 a notch or recess 348 is formed in the inner face of bar 336 and a longitudinal rib 350 is formed on said face of the bar upon which roller 332 on lever 322 rides in the movement of bar 336 to and from its latched position.

Externally of the latch case one end of a spring 352 is suitably anchored to said case and connected at its other end to the rear end of bar 336 to bias said bar to its normal unlatched position in which stop'pin 366 on said bar contacts the body wall of case 314, as seen in Figure 2.

As shown in Figure 4, spaced depending external studs 368 are fixed in the bottom wall of the casing 314 in which the ends of a pivot rod 370 are non-rotatably: mounted. A plate 372 has spaced apertured ears 374 rockably mounted on rod 370 between the studs 368 and in spaced relation from said rod carries an upstanding pin 376 that projects through opening 330 in the bottom wall of the casing 314 to coact with lever 322, 'as will presently appear. At the opposite side of rod 370 with respect to pin 376, one end of a spring 378 is at-' tached to a lug 380 on plate 372, the other end of said spring being anchored to the casing wall, as at 382.

A'curved arm 384 on plate 372 extends around one side of the opening 320 in the bottom wall of casing 314 and spaced lugs 386 on the inner edge of this arm project inwardly over said opening. The spring 378 v normally holds the plate 372 flat against the bottom wall of casing 314 with the pin 376 projecting above the upper surface of said wallwithin the casing. will therefore, be evident that when the parts of the latch are in the position shown in Figure 2, with roller 332 contacting the side face of rib 350 on bar 336 and the. end of lever 322 extending over and in contact with the upper end of pin 376, the spring 378 is under stress and constantly urges the pin upwardly against the lower face of lever 322.

When bar 336 is moved to the left from the'position:

o'FFigure '2 to the'position of Figure 3, the lever 322 is 'rocked in clockwise direction by contact of "shoulder 346 on said bar with the lever arm 326, as above explained, and moved out of contact with pin 376. At approximatelythe same tim e i roller 332 on the lever 322 moves 'over the'zend off'rib. 359 onbar 336 and intorecess: 348; Spring 37=8 "then':- contracts'towock plate 372 orr:rod 370 and position the upper end of pin 376 behind the end of lever 322, therebysecurely latching said:leverand bar 336l in set position-again'st-the action of spring 352', as seen in' Figure3: Preferably, as shown imFigure 5, the-end oflever'3'22 is beveled at 323 to interfit with 'a'ilo'cking recess onthe side of pin 376 to "prevent accidental release.

While various means may be provided for-tripping the'pin 1376'to release lever 322, -in the particular appli cation-oftheinvention shown in Figure l, forithis purpose a tube 390 is loosely disposed through a central openingin cover340 of easing 314and through opening 320lin' the bottom wall .of said casing where the tube is" supported upon the lugs 386 of plate 372. A disk 394, Figure l; isvertically movable-upon spaced parallel guide :pins 396fixed 'to the cover 340 and is provided with 'acentral :opening of smaller diameter than the tube 390, .so' that the disk is at all times in contact with said tube. A motion transmitting shaft in the driving connections between the meter and register extends freely through the tube 390 and the opening in disk 394. A register controlled trip. rod, indicated at 482, has its lower end disposed immediately above the disk 394 and, atl-predetermined time intervals, after valve 24 is opened, is forced downwardly to release bar 336. 'When any part of disk 394 is depressed by rod 482, tube 390 is forced. downwardly torock plate 372 against the resistanceof spring 378 and move pin 376 downwardly in opening 330. Lever 322 is thus released whereupon spring 352 instantaneously acts toreturn bar 336 and the latch parts to the positions of Figure 2. In this instance, bar 336, when'thus'released by latch unit 18, operates to trip the valve latching unit 28, which is provided-with means for automatically resetting bar 336 in its-latched position to thereby effect a two-step closing operation of the valve 24,-as disclosed in said Serial No; 26l,448; The mounting of disc 394 for actuation whenever any part of it is struck by trip lever 482 is as disclosed in Thoresen 2,382,454 to which reference is made for further detail if needed.

From the above description and the accompanying drawings, the construction and manner of operation of my improved latchdevice will be clearly understood. It lwillbe'seenzthat the invention provides a novel assembly of the movable elements of the latch mechanism with a :case of minimum dimensions. It has been found that a latch. device of this kind, though of more or less general'utility, is particularly advantageous as a reliably functioning control unit for'predetermining dispensing systems for fluid meters or the like. In this item of production costs an appreciable economy is-realized as the. small number of latchparts of simple mechanical form may be inexpensively fabricated by conventional production methods;

Furthermore it will be appreciated that in order to latchthe mechanism it is only necessary to move bar 336. to the left in Figure 2 without having 'to' manipulate orcondition some other element inthe assembly to retain the mechanism in latched condition.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the-spirt or essential characteristics =thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not re strictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims rather than by the-foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims arethereforev in! tended to be embraced therein.

What'is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a latch device, a member to be latched, means guidably supporting said member'for rectilinear motion, a spring connected to said-member biasing'the same in one direction to a normal position, a lever pivotally mountedv on said supporting means, said lever having an end'portion positively engaged by said'member in its movement in the opposite direction to rock said lever; said member and lever having 'coacting" means latching said member in set position against the action of said spring' and permitting slight overrunnin'g 'of' said member in setting said lever intlatching position and a stop pin mounted on said supporting means for movement into and out of the path of rocking movement of said lever to releasably retain the lever in latching position.

2. In a latch device as-dfined in claim 1, a carrier plate to which said..pin .is fixedpivotally mounted on the supporting means," and a spring connected to said plate biasing said pin: to a normal-position in the path of movement of saidleverp 3. In a latch device as defined in claim..2, a trip member in bearing contact with said carrier plate operable to displace said stop pinfrom: its normalposition and release said lever for rocking movement from its latching position.

4. A latch device comprising a casing, a member guidably mounted on said casing for reciprocal movement therethrough at one side of the axisof the casingya spring operably connected to bias'said member in one direction toward a normal position, a curved lever extending around said axis and pivotally mounted-in the-casing adjacent to'said 'membe saidlever having an end portion positively engaged by=said-member in its 'movementin the opposite direction to rock said lever, said member and lever having coactingmeans-for-latchingsaidmem ber inset position 'againstthe action of said spring'and permitting-slight overrunning 'of said member relativeto said lever while latching the-lever in set-position, a-stop pin externally mounted onsaid casing'for'movementinto and out of the .path' of rocking'movement of saidlever adapted to releasably retain the lever in set position, and spring means urging-said stop pin against'a'sideface of said lever and into position for abutting'engagement with the other end of thelever when-insetposition;

5. A latch device asdefined in claim 4, in which said stop pin is fixed to' a carrier 'pl'ate pivotally mountedon the casing, together with a spring connectedftosaid plate and urging said pin into the path of'movement of said lever, and a trip member movablysupportedin bearing contact with said plate'and in .coaxiallrelatidn to the casing operable to displace saidstop pin from: its normal position and releasesaid lever forrocking'move ment from its latching position.

6. A latch device compris'ing acasing; amember guid= ably mounted on said casing for rectilinear movement therethrough at one side of the axis of the casing; a spring connected'to'said member biasing the same in one direction to. a normal position, a lever: of curvilinear form pivotally mounted at one end' within" the casing upon the bottom wall-thereof for' rocking movementin an arcuate path about theaxis of the casing,xsaidlever having at its pivoted end an angularly-disposed arm, said member having means topositivelyengage said arm in its movement in the opposite direction".to'rock'said lever to latching positionand' permittingzslight'-over= running of said member. in. setting 'saidlever inlatehing position, said leverandmember having coacting parts latching said' member'in set position against'the action of said spring, and a spring-pressed stop pin;'externally' mounted on the bottom wall of said casing and-projecting through an opening in' the 'casingwallito' a. normal position for abutting 'engagement'withthezotherien'd of said lever to releasably retain said lever in latching position.

7. A latch device as defined in claim 6, wherein 'said casing wall is provided with'an' axially located opening, together with a carrier plate to which the stop pin is fixed pivotally .mounted on said casing wall; a spring connected to: said plateand yieldingly' holding the same in contact with the casingiwall with parts thereof projecting over said axial opening, and a trip; member having bearing. contact withsaid parts and axially movable through said-opening to pivotally 'rock said plate and disengage the stoppin fromwsa d lever to release the latter for rocking movement fromxrts latching position.

8. In a latching mechanism, a reciprocable barjto be latched, a spring biasing said bar for. movement' 111' one direction, control means for moving said-"bar: in"

the other direction, a pivoted'lever having meansthere on positively engaged by-saidbar moving in S3i "0ili61" direction for moving-said lever to latchlng'posrtmn; a

spring biased pivoted latch element adapted to "engage said'leverand" retain it in 'bar latc'hlng' position, 'and means for tripping said mechanism comprising a member adapted to rock said latch element out of engagement with said lever, said mechanism being moved to latched position solely by movement of said bar in said other direction.

9. In a latching mechanism for use with a fluid meter regulating operational control of a valve, a casing adapted to be operatively connected to said meter, said casing having a substantially closed peripheral wall and a substantially central axis, a first member guidably mounted in said wall for reciprocating movement relative to said casing, means connected to said first member in said casing biasing it in one direction to a normal position, a curved lever having an arm extending from one end thereof and being pivotally mounted adjacent said arm for rocking movement of its other end in an arcuate path about said axis, means on said first member for positively engaging said arm to rock said lever when said member is displaced from normal position, cooperating means on said lever and first member for latching said member against the action of said biasing means, a second member having a detent at one end thereof adjacent said other end of said lever, said second member being pivotally mounted and biased so said detent engages the under side of said lever when said first member is in normal position and is projected into abutting relation with the end of said lever when moved as a result of displacement of said first member thereby causing said first member to be retained in latched position, and means for moving said detent out of engagement with the end of said lever thereby causing said first member to be unlatched and return to normal position.

10. In a latching mechanism for use with a fluid meter to regulate operational control of a valve, a casing adapted to be operatively connected to said meter, said casing having a substantially closed peripheral Wall and a substantially central axis, a member guidably mounted in said wall for reciprocating movement relating to said casing, means connecting said casing and member biasing it in one direction to a normal position, a curved lever having an arm extending from one end thereof and pivotally mounted adjacent said arm for rocking movement of its other end in an arcuate path about said axis, a recess on said member for positively engaging said lever arm to rock said lever when said member is displaced from normal position, a roller on said lever adjacent said pivot point thereof, a recess on said member for receiving said roller when displacement thereof causes said lever to rock through movement of said lever arm, a plate having a detent at one end thereof normally engaging the underside of said lever adjacent its other end, said plate being pivotally mounted and biased so said detent is projected into abutting relationship with the end of said lever when it is moved by displacement of said member from normal position, means for engaging said plate to move said detent out of engagement with the end of said lever thereby permitting said member to return to normal unlatched position.

11. In a latch mechanism, a support, a latching lever pivoted on the upper side of said support for substantially horizontal rocking movement between an initial position and a latching position, a reciprocal latch control member on said support, coacting means on said member and lever adapted when said member is displaced in latch setting direction to rock said lever toward said latching position, resilient means biasing said member opposite to said latch setting direction, an element pivoted on the underside of said support for movement about an axis lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of said lever, an upstanding projection on said element, resilient means biasing said element toward said support, said lever in its initial position being located above and in the path of said projection so as to arrest said movement of the element toward the support, and said lever in its latching position permitting movement of said element to locate said projection in the path of said lever so as to serve as a stop preventing rocking of said lever back toward its initial position, coacting means on said lever and member for latching said member when said lever has been moved to latching position, and means for tripping said latch mechanism comprising means positively rocking said element away from said support to remove said projection from the path of said lever thereby allowing said lever to return to initial position and unlatch said control member for movement under the power of the resilient means connected thereto.

12. In the latch mechanism defined in claim 11, said projection and the end of said lever having interlocking formations adapted to prevent accidental removal of the projection from the path of said lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,749,203 Wolters et al. Mar. 4, 1930 

